Nurse-Client Relationship

Nurse-Client RelationshipThe nurse-client relationship is an interaction aimed to enhance the well-being of a client, which may be an individual, a family, a group, or a community. Peplaus theory is of high relevance to the nurse-client relationship, with one of its major aspects being that both the nurse and the client become more knowledgeable and mature over the course of their relationship. Peplau believed that the relationship depended on the interaction of the thoughts, feelings, and actions of each person and that the patient will experience better health when all their specific needs are fully considered in the relationship.ELEMENTSBoundariesBoundaries are integral part of the nurse-client relationship. They represent invisible structures imposed by legal, ethical, and professional standards of nursing that respect the rights of nurses and clients. These boundaries ensure that the focus of the relationship remains on the clients needs, not only by word but also by law.ConfidentialityThis makes the relationship safe and establish trust. The patient should feel comfortable disclosing personal information and asking questions. The nurse is to share information only with professional staff that needs to know and obtain the clients written permission to share information with others outside the treatment team.Communication skills for nursesFor a nurse, the ability to communicate is a very important skill and a vital part of the job. Nurses speak to people of varying educational, cultural, and social backgrounds and must do so in an effective, caring, and professional manner. 10 Tips to Improve Communication Skills 1. Speak slowly Certain words sound very similar to one another if they are spoken very quickly. Take the time to speak slowly and carefully, and your words may be less likely to be mistaken by others.

2. Speak Clearly, Not LoudlyWith some people, especially those who are elderly, the inclination might be to raise your voice dramatically in an effort to make them understand you. Shouting only tends to make it harder to comprehend what you are saying. Instead of speaking louder, try speaking more clearly.

3. Avoid using SlangA common mistake that many people make is to try to use bigger and more complicated words. Another common mistake is to try to use slang terms that are not appropriate. Avoid both of these mistakes for better communication.

4. Remember your Audience What you might say to a doctor or a fellow nurse might be very different from what you would say to a patient or a patients family.

5. Stop and ListenOne of the most important skills you can have for effective communication is being able to actually stop and listen to what is being said by the other person. Listening is a very powerful communication tool.

6. ReflectTo make sure that the communication is flowing, learn the simple trick of reflecting on what the person is saying to you. To do so, you simply repeat what has been said in your own words, back to the person. If you are wrong, the person can say so before you walk away.7. Use Body LanguageIn addition to the words that you say, you communicate with those around you with your face, your hands, your posture etc. Make sure that what you are saying are in agreement, and you are not sending conflicting messages.

8. Know Your Communication RoadblockIf you have ever stumbled on a word or you have ever found yourself so frustrated that you could not communicate at all, then you know the roadblocks. Everyone has a few of them, knowing yours can help you find ways around those issues. For instance, if you know that a person crying will effectively make your communication skills disintegrate then learn ways to manage your situations better.9. Consider Learning a Foreign LanguageIt might sound strange but learning a new language puts you in better touch with your native tongue and can open your eyes to the way you use the words you already know.

10. Dont Forget Other Methods of CommunicationIn addition to speaking and listening, dont forget that there are other skills that you should work on such as reading and writing. How to Build Rapport with our PatientsGet to know them.To build a relationship, it is more important to know more about your patients than just their disease. Relating to hobbies, children, or other interests might help the patient feel comfortable, and it might lessen the overall anxiety of the visit.2. EducatePatients trust us, along with their physicians, to be their educators. They want to understand their treatment options and disease consequences. It is important for them to have an understanding of the healing process so that they can make educated choices.3. Anticipate their NeedsWhether in the acute care or primary care setting, learn to anticipate your patients needs. This will show them that you do care and want to provide them with the best plan of care possible.4. Follow throughTo build credibility. It is essential to follow through with what you say you are going to do. For instance, if you tell your patient that you are going to call her with a list of diabetic educators, do it! This shows that you care and that you can be trusted.5. Make other care providers aware.Make sure that the other members of the patients care team are familiar with each other. Some of them might have similar interests, and this can create an atmosphere of comfort and trust.6. Respectfully call them by their NameWith a heavy nurse-patient ratio, it is a challenge to remember each patients name all the time. However, nothing shows respect better than taking the time to call our patients by their name. This little act will go a long way in making your patients feel more comfortable and at ease with you. Make sure to note his or her response in your chart and share this with the rest of the nursing staff.7. Listen ActivelyActive listening is important in any partnership and/or relationship. But when discussing treatment options or plans of care, listen actively to your patient by providing eye contact and/or by responding to their comments. This demonstrate appreciation and value.8. Remain Calm and Friendly.We all have our personal bias but it is important to respect our patients preferences and choices. It is equally important to make eye-contact and appropriate non-verbal gestures when communicating.9. Offer Appropriate Greetings and Closings.When greeting your patient, whether in the hospital or in primary care setting introduce yourself as the nurse and offer that your goal is to promote well-being. In the hospital, it is often helpful to round with the incoming nurses and introduce them to the patient. Dont forget to use their name!